Patti Smith Book Becomes Showtime Series (Update)

Share This:

Just Kids, rocker Patti Smith’s National Book Award-winning memoir about her relationship with late photographer/artist Robert Mapplethorpe, is being adapted into a limited-episode TV series for Showtime. Smith will co-write it and Penny Dreadful creator John Logan is slated to produce. No word yet on casting or when the show will air.

The punk rock singer-songwriter heroine believes that the television adaptation offers an opportunity to enhance the story she wrote in the book. “A limited series on Showtime will allow us to explore the characters more deeply, enabling us to develop stories beyond the book and allow a measure of unorthodox presentation,” Smith says. “The medium of a television limited series offers narrative freedom and a chance to expand upon the themes of the book.”

Smith also has her next memoir, M Train, being published on October 6th. It details her various travels to the graves and homes of her artistic and literary heroes, recounts how she met by chance Fred “Sonic” Smith of the MC5, who became her husband and father of her children, and other memories from later chapters of her fascinating life as well as reflections on life, loss, creativity and coffee. Kirkus Reviews describes it as “An atmospheric, moody, and bittersweet memoir, to be savored and pondered.”

Smith will be doing a 19-city book tour with readings and conversations/interviews from October 6th through November 22nd. Click here for cities, dates and further details.